Western News

Take care of your child, judge tells man

MONTEGO BAY, St James - A man who got his then 15- year-old "friend" pregnant was recently sentenced to four years at hard labour suspended for two years in the St James Circuit Court.

Kevon Brown who is now 22-years-old, pleaded guilty to carnal abuse in the Circuit Court and was warned by Justice Martin Gayle to "take care of your child".

While handing down sentence Justice Gayle said while society was coming out strongly against acts of this kind against children, "each case must be distinguished from the others," pointing out that the complainant admitted to sneaking out of her mother's house at nights to visit Brown and have sex.

The court was told that the complainant who is back in school after delivering her child, became involved in a relationship with the man in 2010.

In April this year, the court heard, she missed her period. Two months later she advised her mother that she had stop menstruating.

It was later confirmed that she was pregnant.

In July, Brown who was pointed out in an ID parade said he had made a mistake. He was subsequently charged.

In her plea for leniency, defence attorney Morjorn Wallock told the court her client had undergone a lot of stress since his mother died when he was a baby.

She said Brown was sorry for his actions and told her the complainant was his friend "and he breached her trust".